Abstract:

【Objective】The objective of the study was to build a model of clonal growth rules of buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm Texoka) under heterogeneous environments. 【Method】The growth model of clonal fragment in heterogeneous environments from 0 to 12 weeks was analyzed and fitted with nonlinear models of Logistic and Gompertz. 【Result】The clonal growth curves were appropriately fitted, but the Logistic model provide better fitting degree, which is more close to measured value at the same stage of experiment. The clonal ramet multiplication of inflexion was significantly different under various conditions, however the distribution of inflexion stages was relatively concentrate (12.95-14.00 weeks). Amount of cumulative ramets of buffalograss increased under heterogeneous environment compared to homogeneous environment with the same resources available, which indicated that there were water and nutrients transportion and distribution among connected ramets in clonal buffalograss.【Conclusion】Under heterogeneous environment, it is feasible to fit the clonal growth of buffalograss using Logistic nonlinear model, and physiological integration play an important role in increase of the clonal growth of buffalograss.

Key words: Buffalograss, Clonal growth, Physiological integration, Nonlinear model